The Galveston County Daily News

Life is filled with funny little twists and turns, but people are even funnier than anything you can read about. There is nothing like a senior who thinks they are being deprived to give you a few moments of thought.

Think of all the furor and guidance or lack of guidance on the H1N1 flu vaccinations.

First, we hear government announcements and think we’d better look into whatever is being discussed, discovered or presented. Then, before we can make a decision, new announcements change what we heard yesterday; that’s when we start to get indignant or panicky about being overlooked because we are, after all, seniors (is that spelled “expendable”?).

When I heard the announcement that seniors would not be eligible for the first H1N1 vaccine as we “really weren’t likely to be exposed,” I became irate. Who does the government know that I am surrounded by every day? How does the government know if I am high risk or not?

I’ll just start finding a way for active seniors to get that shot, I thought to myself. We won’t be passed over if I can help it.

Thank goodness I have friends so much more informed and wiser than I. “Hold on,” I was told. “Talk to the head of public health — find out the particulars before you talk to the public.”

As this advice came from a trusted friend, I took her words to heart — I waited. I didn’t even call my longtime primary care physician and friend and ask to be put on a vaccination list, although I was certain I wanted to queue up rather than die of swine flu.

Two months later, I was told by that same government that shots would be available for everyone the next week. “Call now and make your appointment” was the message from my clinic.

“Wait a minute,” I told myself. “Why do you want to be in the first group to be vaccinated and not even need it?”

So, I’m waiting. I decided I would just wait and watch and see how this all works out. Although both Joe and I have had our regular fall flu shot, we are going to watch the reactions and the news before we go further. We are, after all, healthy and strong.

Am I not a great example of the perversity of human nature — indignant when I thought I wouldn’t be placed on a list because I was “too old” and now reluctant to be in the experimental group?

Please, cough or sneeze into your shoulder (doctors and nurses learned that a long time ago), carry hand sanitizers and stay home if you feel bad.

You are valued. I wish you well; that’s for sure.

Betty Streckfuss is deputy speaker pro tem of the Texas Silver-Haired Legislature and an occasional writer on senior issues for The Daily News.